Builder&#39;s level.



No. 885,658. PATENTBD APR. 21, 908.

N. ABRAHAMS.

BUILDBRS LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1907.

IN VEN TOR.

Naffzan flbrahams NATHAN ABRAHAMS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

Specification Letters Patent.

BUILDERS LEVEL.

Patented April 21, 19Q8Q Application filed November 18, 1907. Serial No. 401,966.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, N ATHAN ABRAHAMS, citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Builders Levels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in builders levels; and it consists in the novel construction of level more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aface elevation of the level when unfolded; Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof when folded; Fig. .3 is a face elevation thereof when folded, on a larger scale; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the level at the hinge-joint, shown partlyopen.

- The object of my invention is to construct a builders level in two foldable or hinged sections so that the level (usually several feet in length in its open position) may be closed or',

folded when not in service, therebyminimizing the amount of ,room taken upby the same while being carried fromlace to place.

A further object is toprovi e such a level with'special locking means to retain the hinged sections in perfect alinement. The advantages thereof will be better apparent from a detailed description of the invention which is as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1,, 1, represent,

.two sections foldable against each other about the hinge h, each section comprising a board of substantially the shape shown in the i drawing, a general form well understood in the art. As shown, each board or section tapersoutwardly, the hinge-joint being at the widerend of the board. One of the sections is provided with a water or spirit level 2, protected'by a slotted plate 3, 'said level being located adjacent to the hinge-joint.-

The meeting ends of the hinged sections are provided with depressions 4, 4, which register with the unfolding of the sections, jointly forming a hand-hole whereby the level can becarried about as desired. Thisholeis approximately midway between the up or and'lower edges of the level as shown. neath the hand-hole-there is located embedded in one of the sections adjacent to the hinge line, a metal socket 5 within which operates a sliding bolt 6 said bolt terminating inalaterally disposed l11' 0I" fingerhold 7 operatin through a sldt 8 in the exposed side wa l' of the socket, a suitable complementary. socket 5' being embedded in the ad'acent section to receive the end of the bolt w en the parts are unfolded, and thereby lockthe sections rigidly together and hold them in perfect alinerhent. When the sections are folded, they are held together at their free ends by a spring latch 8 hinged to a plate 9 screwed to the outer face of oneof the sections, the free end of the latch closing over. the exposed face of the free end of the .op osite section (Fig. 2).

avingdescribed my invention, what I claim is:

' As an article of manufacture, a builder'slevel composed'of two fiat boards tapering toward one end, a hinge coupling the same toether at their opposite ends,'the hinge joint eing disposed parallel to the faces of the boards, a spirit level mounted on one of the boards adjacent the hinge 'oint, the boards having alining depressions ormed on ,oppo- 'site sides of the hinge-joint whereby'a handhole is formed upon the unfolding 0f'the' boards, complementary sockets carried by the boards on opposite sides of the hingejoint, a bolt mounted in one of the sockets and adapted to partially enter the complementary socket upon an unfolding of the boards whereby the latter are held rigidly in their unfolded position and in alinement, and means for clam ing the free ends of the boards when fo ded, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' NATHAN ABRAHAMS. 'Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, MARY D. WHrrooMB. 

